Top 5 Music Festivals in The World

Whether it's a depraved society or the most fantastic live musical acts you crave, these music festivals have your name written all over them.

Burning Man

If you’re radically self-expressive, sick of societal norms and looking for a party like has never been known, Burning Man is definitely the place for you. Hosted in Nevada’s Black Rock City this week long festival is fuelled by a variety of goals (10 governing principles to be precise) which are further fostered by attendees (who are also participants in the process). These principles include everything from radical self-reliance to ‘leaving no trace’ – which has participants leaving the festival grounds in a manner befitting to how they found it. Not to mention their 'No cash policy' has festival goers returning to the barter system! Conclusively, we could say Burning Man is a festival of the people, by the people and for the people.

-Picture courtesy Scottlondon.com

Pukkelpop

This annual music festival is one of the largest ones to be held in Europe in Hasselt, Belgium around mid-to-late August. Held within a large enclosure of fields and woodland it has an attendance rate as exorbitant as 1,80,000 and more. The beauty of Pukkelpop is that it’s only goal (which it continues to annually fulfill) was, is and remains providing wide, amazing ranges of alternative music spanning all genres from rock, pop, dance and hip-hop to punk and heavy metal. Basically, a ‘progressive and contemporary’ musical event with ‘something for everyone.’ Notable music events in the past include The Prodigy, RHCP, Neil Young, Radiohead, The Pixies etc. 2011's headlining acts include Foo Fighters, Eminem and The Offspring.

-Picture courtesy gottadancedirty.com-

Coachella

It’s hardly surprising that one of the world’s best festivals is conducted in none other than California – home to never-ending sunshine and peace-loving hippies. Held in late April of each year, this three-day music and art bonanza entertains some of the biggest acts in music and hosting over 20,000 people each year. Its popularity has grown with startling precedence in the last 3-4 years and we doubt it will leave this list for another 10 at least! They are especially renowned for attracting some rare-to-festival legends such as Leonard Cohen and Paul McCartney to name a few.

-Picture courtesy Reuters-

Boom Festival

Boom, unlike most other music festivals, is a biennial one. Organized and executed in the exquisitely beautiful Portugal (around late August) the festival’s backdrop is magnificent to say the least and considering it features elements of paint, sculpture, video art, installations and cinema aside from just music it is possibly the most dynamic too.

What started out as a regular psy-trance festival has broadened its horizons deeply both artisitically and musically. The entire experience is one permeated with a sense of mysticism, alternative thoughts and spirit as well as a keen respect for the environment by powering the entire festival on wind and solar energy as well as vegetable oil. Considering 26000 people visit each year this is an amazing feat!

-Picture courtesy Reuters-

Glastonbury

Perhaps the most well-known of all on this list Glastonbury consistently wins our ‘Best Festival Award’ time and time again. With an exceptional organizational committee, a line-up which cannot be compared with any other and a crowd of at least 185000 people each year, this 40 year old festival is magnetic to say the least with most one-time goers vouching to return in the future. The festival is skipped every fifth year to allow the grounds some time to recuperate (2012 will not have a Glastonbury) but on all other years the five days of merry-making is well anticipated despite consistently rainy weather. Every year tickets and infamous for getting sold out in less than two hours as well as the registration process rigorous. So don't dilly-dally if you're keen on going!